Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Feb. 4, |902.

e. w.ceL| |N. AcETvLEm: GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Jan. 3, 1901.)

2 Sheets Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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Patented Feb. 4, |902.

G. w. COLLIN.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATUR.

(Application led Jan. 3, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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GEORGE IV. COLLIN, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.A

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N oi 692,239, dated February4, 1902. Application filed January 3. 1901. Serial No. 111,958. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. COLLIN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Bridgeport,in the cou nty of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCarbid-'Feed Mechanism for Acetylene-Gas Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Myinvention relates to new and useful iinprovements in carbid feedmechanism for acetylene-gas machines, and especially to that classdesignedto feed lump-carbid in a raw state from a hopper.

In a prior application filed by me for carbid-feed mechanism onSeptember 19, 1900, Serial No. 30,500, I have shown, described, andclaimed certain features which are in a measure common with some ofthose shown in this application; and the gist of this inventioncomprises improvements upon the mechanism shown in said priorapplication. My present improvements, however, are equally applicable toother forms of feeding devices, as Will later be apparent.

It is the object of my invention to improve upon devices of the aboveclass by providing a feeding device which may be automatically operatedby the movement of the bell of the gasometer in such a manner as todeposit given charges of raw carbid into the generator with eachlowering movement of said gasometerbell; further, to so construct theabove as to permit it to take said raw or irregularlyshaped carbid fromthe chute of the hopper, divide it into given charges, and successivelydeposit said charges in a generator with each operation of the bellbefore mentioned. I further provide means whereby the size of the outletof the chute from the hopper may be adjusted to accommodate the size andregulate the ow of carbid as may be desired, and, finally, I provide anagitating device whereby a flow of carbid at the desired time isassured.

With the above objects in view my invention resides and consists in thenovel construction and combination of parts shown upon the accompanyingtwo sheets of drawings, forming a part of this specification, upon whichsimilar characters of reference denote like or corresponding partsthroughout the several gures, and of whichanism, the parts, however,being in a different-position from that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 isafront elevation of said feeding mechanism, illustrating the connectiontherefrom to `the gasometer-bell whereby said feeding mechanism isoperated. Fig. et is a perspective view of a part of my feedingmechanism, comprising a star-wheel, its supporting-links, and adeflected agitator hung from said links. Fig, 5 is a further perspectiveview of the mechanism employed for adjusting the position of theagitator to regulate the dow of carbid.

Referring in detail to the characters of reference marked upon thedrawings, A indicates the top of a generator, which may be of any of theusual or preferred constructions, and B is a gas-outlet from saidgenerator.

C represents a casing built upon the generator an'd inclosing thefeeding mechanism. An opening is provided through the -bottom of saidcasing to the generator for the passage of carbid from the feedingmechanism, which. later will be more fully described, A cap V isprovided in the top of this casing, through which access may be had tothe feeding mechanism for repairs or otherwise. Within this casing islocated feeding mechanism, and to the upper end thereof is connected acarbid-hopper D, having a chargingopening through its top and a scalablecover E to inclose the same. This hopper is mounted in a frame F, whichcan be supported on the floor, as will be apparent from the drawings. Achute G, preferably substantially square in cross-section, is connectedto the bottom of the hopper and deflected to one side at substantiallyan angle of forty-five degrees. In line with the bottom of this chute Iarrange the special feeding mechanism before mentioned, and whichconsists of a pocketed Wheel H, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,preferably comprising an integral casting having a series of radialpaddles and a circular web inclosing thc ends, thus forming transversepockets. The periphery of the inner edge of these end Webs contains aseries of notches IOO I, and in, practice I prefer to use substantiallythree of these notches to each pocket,as shown in the drawings. Thispocketed wheel is mounted upon the cross-shaft J, which latter istltedin suitable bearings in the casing before mentioned. On the outerend of this shaft is mount-ed a suitable ratchet-wheel K, with alever-and-pawl mechanism L, adapted to operate the same by reason of itsconnection M with the gasometer-bell N.

From the foregoing it will be noted that with the rise of the bell thelever and pawl are permitted to drop in a manner to engage one of thelower teeth of the ratchet-wheel, and as the gas is consumed from thebell and the \latter drops said pawl and ratchet-wheel will be raised ina manner to turn the shaft and its pocketed wheel, thus conveying acharge of carbid from the mouth of the chute of the hopper and droppingit down through the opening of the casing to the generator. In order toprevent the pockets of this wheel from overiiowing and to divide thecarbid into charges of uniform quantities, so as to positively con trolthe same, I use a star-wheel O, mounted in bell-crank links P P, secured1o either side of the vertical walls of the chute. In practice thepaddles of this star-wheel engage the notches I of the feed-wheel H,before mentioned, and also are designed to register with those of thefeed-wheel below, as will be apparent from Figs. l and 2 of thedrawings. It will thus be seen that 'in the feeding operation these twowheels operate together, one by the other, in a manner to successivelyreceive, inclose, and deposit into the generator separate, distinct, anduniform charges of carbid from the chute of the hopper. Both of thesewheels are preferably made of cast-iron, and it will be obvious that theweight of the top one is sufficient to insure it snugly riding in thenotches of the lower one and turning therewith. Should one or moreeXtra-large lumps of carbid be taken in between the wheels, the top onewould rise by reason of Vits linked supports, thus allowing said chargeto be fed through uninterrupted.

Between the rear end of the links above mentioned and within the chute Ihang an agitating-gate Q, the rear face of which is provided withtransverse shoulders R to engage the carbid which flows thereagainstfrom the hopper. This gate serves the double purpose of closing thechute from the hopper more or less, in accordance with its adjustedposition, and the further and more important purpose of agitating thecarbid at the proper time in a manner to insure its movement or fiowfrom the chute into the pockets of the wheel below. This agitatingmovement of the gate is secured from the movement of the pocketed wheelI-I through the medium of the star-wheel and its hangers, as follows:With the movement of the two wheels in question and by reason of thepeculiar engagement one with the other the uppermost one is given aslight vibratory movement, which of course is imparted to the hangersand through them tothe agitator before mentioned. At the rear of thegate I provide an adjustable rockersupport S, which is preferably in theshape of a crank and is pivoted in the two vertical sides of the chute.This support is provided with an arm T at one end and contains asetscrew U, designed to engage the serrated edge W of the chute, so thatby the movement of said arm the crank S is turned within its bearings ina manner to throw its loop portion backward or forward, thus adjustingthe gate Q to and from the carbid in a manner to make the opening largeor small, so as to better accommodate different sizes of carbid.

It will be obvious, of course, that the carbid of the hopper at alltimes readily flows into the chute; but from this chute said ilow ischecked by means of the gate before mentioned and, further, by thepresence of the pocketed wheel at the mouth of said chute. It is furtherapparent and an important feature of my construction that the weight ofthe carbid is supported by the chute and not the feed-wheel and alsothat the carbid flows from said chute into the top pockets and againstthe forward part of the wheel, as seen in Figs. l and 2. The pressure ofthis flow, together with the weight of the carbid in the precedingpockets, insures an exceptionally easily operating feeding device, whichis very desirable.

Having described the construction of my machine, I will brieiiy refer toits method of operation, which is as follows: Assuming that the machineis in operation and that the gasometer-bell is lowering by reason of itsgas being used out and tho other parts of themachine are in thepositions shown, the connection M from said bell will draw up the leverL and its pawl in a manner to throw the pocketed wheel forward and dumpa charge of carbid therefrom. Simultaneously with this operation thestar-wheel will likewise turn, causing its hangers to vibrate, thustransmitting to the agitator-gate a slight vertical movement. Theshoulders arranged upon the rear of this gate press upon the carbidsufficiently to insure its starting to flow through the chute into thepocketed wheel, where it is caught and temporarily retained in a mannerto check the iow. During this move- .ment of the carbid the chargepreviously discharged into the generator will have produced sufficientgas to again raise the gasometerbell, which of course lowers the leverand pawl to their normal position in readiness for a further andpractically similar operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

l. In a carbid-feeding device, the combination with a hopper adapted tocontain lumpcarbid, of a pocketed wheel having notches IOS IIO

in its end flanges, a star-Wheel adapted to be engaged and operated bysaid notches to cut out specific charges of carbid from the chute.

2. The combination with a carbid-hopper, of a pocketed Wheel to receiveand feed therefrom given charges of carbid, a star-wheel operated bysaid pocketed wheel, links in which said star-wheel is mounted, and ashouldered plate in said hopper carried by said links to agitato thecarbid in the hopper with each movement of the Wheel.

3. A carbid-feeding mechanism comprising a hopper, a wheel connectedtherewith comprising a series of radial paddles and circular Websinclosing the ends, to form a series of pockets to receive the carbid, aseries of teeth in the periphery of said webs, a starwheel riding uponsaid Wheel engaged by the teeth of its end Webs so as to insure theregistration of the radial paddles on one Wheel with those of the otherto constitute separate and distinct compartments to receive separate andform successive charges of rough carbid from the hopper, links connectedto the star-Wheel and an agitator supported by said links and operatedby said star-Wheel to insure the feeding of the carbid.

4. In a carbid-feeding mechanism, the combination with a carbid-chute,of apocketed wheel, flanges inclosing the ends of said pockets providedwith a toothed inner peripheral edge, a star-Wheel adapted to rotateagainst said toothed edge in a manner to check and divide the iiow ofcarbid into specitied charges, means for operating said pocketed Wheeland means for agitating the carbid Within the chute at each movement ofthe pocketed Wheel in a manner to insure the desired movement of thecarbid.

5. A carbid-feed mechanism for acetylenegas machines comprising apocketed feeddrum and mechanism for driving the same, a star-Wheel toride upon and be operated by said drum, a gate controlling the size ofthe opening for the carbid from its hopper and connections between thestar-wheel and gate for automatically and bodily raising and 10W- eringthe latter to expand and contract the passage under said gate with eachfeeding operation of the pocketed drum.

6. A carbid-feeding device comprising a pocketed Wheel, a star-Wheelengaged thereby, bell-crank links in which said star-Wheel is hung, anagitator attached to said links to prompt the ilow of carbid, and meansto cause the positive rotation of the star-Wheel with the pocketed Wheeland insure the registration ot the pocket of one with that of the other,so as to receive separate and form specitic quantities of rough carbidfrom the hopper into charges, substantially as shown and described.

'7. The combination ot' a carbid-feed mechanism comprising a feed-drumhaving a series of pockets to receive carbid, astar-wheel riding uponsaid drum adapted to separate the flow of carbid into specific charges,bellcrank links in which said star-Wheel is hung, a gate hung upon therear end of said links in a manner to impart thereto a slight verticalmovement, and a series of shoulders upon the inner side of the gateadapted to engage and agitate the carbid resting thereagainst and insureits further iioW into the pockets of the drum.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, this 24th day of December, A. D. 1900.

GEORGE W. COLLIN.

Vitnesses:

C. M. NEWMAN, WILLIAM V. DEvITr.

